The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-06-17
RIOOMSRTRG Pa FRIDAY JUNE IT, 1887

young oncs.-
"Indeed, Master Ernest, then why did you
look so blank when l told you that my young
ladies were not visiblel"
"Because I regretted replied that young
gentleman, who was not often at loss,
shaving lost an opportunity Of confirming
my views"
al will put the question again when they
are present to take their own part,n was tho
answer.
When their call was over, Ernest and Jer-
emy separated, Jeremy TO return home and
Ernest to go and see his old master, Mr. Hal
ford, with whom he stopped to tea. 1t was
past on one Of the most beautiful evenings
in July whom he set out on his homeward
path. There were two ways of reaching
Dum's Ness-either by the road that ran along
the cliff or by walking on tho shinglc Of the
beach. He chose the latter, and had reached
the spot where Titheburgh abbey frowned at
its enemy, the advancing sea, when he sud-
denly became aware of young lady in q
shady hat and swinging a walking stick, in
whom he recognized Florence Ceswick
allow do you do, Ernestr she said, coolly,
but with u slight flush upon her olive skin
that betrayed that she was not quite so cool
as she looked; "what are you dreaming
aboutl have seen you coming for the last
200 yards, but you never saw me-"
~ was dreaming Of you, of course, Flor
ence"
"Oh, indeed,n she answered, dryly; 81
thought, perhaps, that Eva had got over her
headache-her headaches do go in the most
wonderful way-and that you had seen her
and were dreaming of her."
And why should l dream of her, even il
had seen herl"
"For the reason that men do dream Of
women-because she is handsome"
'ls she better looking than you, then,
Florenceln
Better looking, indeedl I am not good
looking"
Nonsense, Florencel you are very good
looking"
She stopped, for he had turned and was
walking with her, and laid her hand lightly
on his arm.
''Do you really think sol" she said, gazing
full into his dark eyes. ~ am glad you
think so."
They were quite alone In the summer twi-
light; there was not a single soul to be seen
on the beach or on the cliffs above 1t. Her
touch and the earnestness of her manner
thrilled him; the beauty and the quiet of the
evening, the sweet freshness Of the air, the
murmur Of the falling waves, the fading
| purples in the sky, all these things thrilled
him, too. Her face locked very handsome in
its own stern way, as she gazed at him so
earnestly; and remember, he was only 81.
| He bent his dark head toward her very
slowly, to give her an opportunity Of escaping
| II she wished but she made no sign, and in
| another moment he had kissed her trembling
| lips.
1t was foolish act, for he was not In love
with Florence, and he had scarcely done it
before his better sense told him that IL was
foolish. But it was done, and who can recall
kissl
| He saw the olive face grow pale, and for q
moment she raised her arm as though to fling
it about his neck, but next second she started
back from him.
| "Did you mean that she said, wildly, "or
are you playing with met"
Ernest looked alarmed, as well he might;
the young lady's aspect at the moment was
not reassuring.
"Mean itr he said, 'oh, yes, 1 mean it,"
II mean, Ernest" and again she laid her
hand upon his arm and looked into his eyes,
"did you mean that you loved me, as-for
now am not ashamed to tell you'll love
you'll"
Ernest felt that this was getting awful. To
kiss young woman was one thing--he had
| done that before-but such an outburst os
this was more than he had bargained for
Gratifying as it was to him to learn that he
possessed Florences affection, he would at
that moment have given something to be
without it. He besitated little.
"How serious you arelr he said, at last
"Yes," she answered, ~ am; have been
serious for some time. Probably you know
enough of me to be aware that am not O
woman to be played with. hope that you
are serious, too; if you are not it may be the
l Ezv, l...l. ~ II
from her as though it had stung her.
Ernest turned cold all over, and realized
that the position was positively grewsome
What to say or do he did not know SO he
stood silent, and, as it happened, silence
served his turn better than speech.
"There, Ernest, have startled you. 1t is
it is because l love you. When you kssec
me just now, everything that Is beautiful il
the world seemed to pass before my eyes, anC
for a moment heard such music as they pla,
in heaven. You don't understand me yet
Ernest; am fierce, know, but sometimes
think my heart is deep as the sea, and cal
love with ten times the strength Of the shal
low women round me; and as l can love, SO
can hate"
This was not reassuring intelligence to Er1l
est
"You are a strange girl" he said, feebly.
YES" she answered. with smile 90
know l am strange; but while am with yo
Ifeel so good, and when you are away a
my life is void, in which bitter thoughts fi
about like bats. But there, good night.
shall see you at the Smythes' dance to-moi
row, shall notl You will dance with MT
will you noti And you must not dance wit
Eva, remember; at least not too much or
shall get jealo,. and that will be bad for L
both. And now good night, my dear, goo
night" and again she put up her face to b
kissed.
He kissed it; he had no alternative; and sh
left him swiftly. He watched her retreatin
form till 1t vanished in the shadows, an
then he sat down upon a stone, wiped h
forehead and whistled-
Well might he whistle.